Viola plant named ‘Sunviolabu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Viola  plant named ‘Sunviolabu’, characterized by its compact and mounding plant habit; freely branching habit; freely flowering habit; and light violet-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Viola cornuta.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNVIOLABU’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Viola,botanically known as Viola cornuta and hereinafter referred to by thename ‘Sunviolabu’.

The new Viola is a product of a planned breeding program conducted bythe Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breedingprogram was to create new compact Viola cultivars with attractive flowercoloration.

The new Viola originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventorin April, 2003, in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, of a proprietary selectionof Viola cornuta identified as code number 02V-15-3, not patented, asthe female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Violacornuta identified as code number 0V-40-1, not patented, as the male, orpollen, parent. The new Viola was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled environment in Higashiomi, Shiga,Japan.

Asexual reproduction of the new Viola by vegetative cuttings in acontrolled environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since April, 2005,has shown that the unique features of this new Viola are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Sunviolabu has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Sunviolabu’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Sunviolabu’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofViola:

-   -   1. Compact and mounding plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit.    -   3. Freely flowering habit.    -   4. Light violet-colored flowers.

Compared to plants of the female parent selection, plants of the newViola are smaller and have larger flowers. Compared to plants of themale parent selection, plants of the new Viola have larger flowers. Inaddition, plants of the new Viola and the male parent selection differin flower color as plants of the male parent selection haveyellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Viola can also be compared to plants of the cultivarSunviobuho, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,557. In side-by-sidecomparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the newViola and the cultivar Sunviobuho differed in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Viola were smaller than plants of the        cultivar Sunviobuho.    -   2. Plants of the new Viola had shorter lateral branches and        peduncles than plants of the cultivar Sunviobuho.    -   3. Plants of the new Viola had shorter leaves than plants of the        cultivar Sunviobuho.    -   4. Plants of the new Viola had larger flowers than plants of the        cultivar Sunviobuho.    -   5. Plants of the new Viola and the cultivar Sunviobuho differed        in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Viola, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Viola.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective viewof a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunviolabu’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of typicalflowers of ‘Sunviolabu’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, undercommercial practice during the winter in a polyethylene-coveredgreenhouse with day temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 23° C. and nighttemperatures ranging from −2° C. to 6° C. Plants had been growing forabout five months when the photographs and description were taken. Inthe following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Viola cornuta cultivar Sunviolabu.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Viola            cornuta identified as code number 02V-15-3, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Viola            cornuta identified as code number 0V-40-1, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About two weeks at 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant roots.—About four weeks            at 20° C. to 25° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous and fleshy; light brown in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form/habit.—Compact and mounded plant habit; outwardly            spreading; vigorous growth habit. Freely branching habit;            pinching will enhance branching.        -   Plant height.—About 11.4 cm.        -   Plant width (spread).—About 29.4 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 8.4 cm. Diameter: About            2.3 mm. Internode length: About 1.5 cm. Strength: Strong.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 146D.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 2.2 cm.        -   Width.—About 1.7 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Rounded.        -   Base.—Truncate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            137B; venation, 145A. Developing and fully expanded leaves,            lower surface: 146B; venation, 145A.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.1 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: 145A.        -   Stipule.—Length: About 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm.            Shape: Pinnately-parted. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Cuneate.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper surface: 137B. Color, lower surface: 138A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type/habit.—Single flowers borne in upper leaf axils;            flowers face obliquely upright. Freely flowering habit with            about 50 open flowers per plant.        -   Fragrance.—Faint, sweet.        -   Natural flowering season.—Continuously flowering from early            November to June in Japan. Flowers not persistent.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers last about five to seven            days on the plant.        -   Flower buds.—Height: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 3.6 mm.            Shape: Lenticular. Color: 86A.        -   Flower diameter.—About 3.9 cm by 3.2 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 1.3 cm.        -   Eye diameter.—About 3.4 mm by 4.7 mm.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl; one upper petal, two lateral petals and lower two            petals fused and spurred. Upper petal: Length: About 2.2 cm.            Diameter: About 2.2 cm. Shape: Spatulate with rounded apex            and attenuate base; margin, entire and slightly undulate.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color:            Developing and fully expanded petals, upper surface: N87A.            Developing and fully expanded petals, lower surface: 86B.            Lateral petals: Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About            1.7 cm. Shape: Spatulate with rounded apex and attenuate            base; margin, entire and slightly undulate. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Developing and            fully expanded petals, upper surface: 86D; venation, 83A.            Developing and fully expanded petals, lower surface: 83A.            Lower fused petals: Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About            2.5 cm. Shape: Reniform with cordate apex and attenuate            base; margin, entire and slightly undulate. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Developing and            fully expanded petals, upper surface: N87B; towards the            base, 85D; venation, 83A; eye, 21B. Developing and fully            expanded petals, lower surface: 86D. Spur length: About            7 mm. Spur diameter: About 2.1 mm. Spur color: 93D.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Typically five in a single            whorl. Length: About 1.5 cm. Width: About 4 mm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: 144A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 8 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 mm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: 144B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Typically            five. Anther shape: Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 2.2 mm            by 1.2 mm. Anther color: 10D. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen            color: Close to 10D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.            Pistil length: About 4 mm. Stigma shape: Ellipsoidal. Stigma            color: 153D. Style color: Close to 155D. Ovary color: 144D.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Viola have not been noted    to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Viola.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Viola have been observed to    have good garden performance and tolerate rain, wind and    temperatures from about −7° C. about 25° C.

1. A new and distinct Viola plant named ‘Sunviolabu’ as illustrated anddescribed.